Mechanical accumulator in strip feeding devices



3 Sheets-Sheet l 4 m -,IIIO.: am. i 0H- HQ n 10% lil |l.0 4 OH.| M n -HMP June 25, 1957 E. T. LoRlG MECHANICAL AccuMULAToR 1N STRIP FEEDING DEVICESA Filed Dec. 4. 195s F l I l l l I l l vl l :fl

PROCESS/IVG EQUIPMENT June 25, 1957 E. T. LoRlG 2,797,089

MECHANICAL ACCUMULATOR IN STRIP FEEDING DEVICES Filed Dec. 4, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 his Attorney.

E. T. LORIG June 25, 1957 MECHANICAL ACCUMULATOR IN STRIP FEEDING DEVICES 3 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed Dec. 4, 1953 INI/ENTOR. EDWIN 7T 0R/G, BYAWAZa//gq( his Altar/rey.

MECHANICAL ACCUMULATOR'IN STRIP FEEDING DEVICES Edwin T. Lorig, Pittsburgh, Pa., assg'nor to United States SteelCorporation, a corporation` of Newersey Application December 4, 1953, Serial'No.'` 396,292

10 Claims. (Cl.271-2.6)

This invention relates to a mechanical accumulator and more particularly to such an accumulator for use with strip or strip like material. Such accumulators are generally used in strip processing lines Where it isinecessary to accumulate strip so that the line can continue in operation when coils of strip are being fastened end to end and when the strip is being sheared and removed at the opposite end of the line. Looper pits with free hanging loops are often used for this purpose but they have many disadvantages including the cost of excavating .the pit and damage to the strip asit passes through the pit. Mechanicalk accumulators have also been used but thosein present use have many drawbacks. It is extremely diicult to properly track strip through the accumulator without damaging the edges of the strip. The strip leaving the accumulator'is not properly aligned and it is not possible to properly position it in succeeding processing operations. In an attempt to make the strip ltrack properly high tension has been applied to the strip, this in itself being very detrimental since it causes distortion of the strip and requires excessive strength and weight in the parts of the accumulator.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a relatively light weight accumulator through which the strip can pass under light tension.

Another object is to provide such an accumulator which will properly align the strip in its passage therethrough and which will help align the strip on both sides thereof.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure l is a schematic View of a processing line with accumulators incorporated therein;

Figure 2 is a schematic elevation of one form of my accumulator;

Figure 3 is a view taken on the line III-III of Fig' ure 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a View, similar to Figure 2, show-ing another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a View taken on the line JI-Vl of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a top plan View of Figure 5 Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the selfcentering rolls used in the accumulator; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of a narrow-bodied roll.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the strip S being processed passes from an uncoiler 2, around rolls 4 and 6, narrow-bodied roll 8, through a mechanical looper 10, processing equipment 12 and around a narrowbodied roll 14 to another mechanical looper 16. It then passes to a drive bridle 18 which may be a unit such as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 380,647, filed September 17, 1953, From here it passes to a coiler 20. It will be understood that other equipment normally used in processing lines such as shears and welding equipment for welding Vsuccessive coils of strip end to end willvbe provided. In vother words, the' accumulators 10 atene exit accumulator 16 and its carriage 34 will gradually and 16 will be used in the same manner and in the same positionas'other mechanical loopers and free hanging loops. The framework of the mechanical looper or accu# mulatorconsists of four posts 22 connected at their bottoms in any suitable manner and at their tops by means of Lbeams 24 and 26. Iwo spacedv apart channels 28 arranged back to back extend between and are fastened to .the top of beams 24 and 26. Arranged between the vertical posts 22 are two vertical guide posts 30 connected at their topsV by means of I-beam 31 which also supports the channels 28;' A guide 32 attached to movable carriage 34 is arranged between the guide posts 30. Wire ropes 36 are attached to the guide 32 with the free end of each being attached to a counterweight 38. Each of the wirefropes 36 passes over a guide pulley 40 supported between the channels 28 and then over a similar guide pulley 42 supported at the end of channels 28. As shown in Figure' 2, one of the wire ropes passes to the left and the other to the right of the accumulator. While it is desirable to use two such cables and counterweights, one may be used'. A self-centering roll 44 is mounted on the post 22l at the entry side of the looper adjacent the top thereof. ThisV self-centering roll may be ofthe type shown in my prior Patents Nos. 2,592,581, 2,593,157 and 2,593,158, but isprefera-bly of the hollow fall-down type such as shown in Figure 3 of my copending application, Serial No. 380,647, tiled. September 17, 1953. This roll is shown in detail in Figure 8. A- plurality of rolls 46 are mounted in any suitable manner on the framework at the bottom of the accumulator. For best results these rolls, like roll 8, are narrow-bodied, as shown in Figure 9. In other words, their strip Icontact surfaces are cylindrical and of less width than the Width of the strip passing thereover. A plurality of rolls 48 are mounted on the carriage 34. These rolls are preferably self-centering rolls of the same type as the roll 44, but narrow-bodied cylindrical rolls similar to rolls 46 may be used. A roll Sti of the same type as roll 44 is mounted on the exit side of the accumulator at approximately the same height as roll 44.v A narrow-bodied roll 52 is mounted at the bottom of the accumulator at the exit end of .the accumulator and at approximately the same elevation as the roll 8.

In operation the strip passes over the roll 8 around a substantial arc thereof and up and around the roll 44 and down to the rst roll 46. The strip then passes up and down around the successive rolls 48 and 46 as clearly shown in the drawings. The strip passes from the last roll 46 up around roll S0 and then down around roll 52. The accumulator 1t) at the entry end of the processing line will normally operate with the carriage 34 in its upper full line position shown in Figure 2 and the accumulator 16 on the exit end will normally operate with the carriage 34 in its lower position shown in broken lines in Figure 2. When it becomes necessary to stop the entry end to attach another coil there will be sufficient strip accumulated in the entry accumulator 10 to permit the remaining part of the line to operate. As the remaining part of the line continues to operate the carriage 34 in entry accumulator 10 will gradually lower until it approaches its lowest position. Sutcient strip is accumulated to enable the coil to be attached before all the accumulated strip runs out into the line. After the new coil is attached the line at the entry end will be speeded up until its carriage 34 is again in its upper position. When the exit end of the line is stopped to remove a coil the remaining part of the line will feed strip into the exit accumulator 16 and its carriage 34 will rise to its upper position. line will be speeded up to remove the excess strip in the descend to its lower broken line position.

The accumulator shown in Figures 5 to 7 is constructed:

After the coil is removed the exit lend of the Y 3 in essentially the same manner as that shown in Figures 2 to 4 except that the xed rolls are arranged at the top of the accumulator. In this embodiment the framework is made up of four vertical posts 54.connected at thetop byv means of 'beams 56. A pair of spaced apart vertical guide posts 58, similarrto guide posts 30, are arranged between the posts `54`and extend from the base of the accumulator to the beams 56. Cross-beamsr59 extend between the beams 56 and are attached thereto and to posts 54. Guides 62, similar to guides 32are attached to a movable carriage 64 and are guided by the posts 58. Wire ropes 66 are attached to the guides 62 with each rope extending upwardly therefrom over a guide sheave 68 around which it passes to a guide sheave 70. The sheaves 68 and 70 are mounted on'channels 71 supported on thebeams 59. A counterweight 72 is mounted on the free end of each wire rope 66. Rolls 80 and 82, similar to rolls 44 and 50, are mounted on the beams 56. A plurality of rolls V84, constructed in a manner similar to rolls 48, are supported on the beams 56 between rolls 80 and 82. A plurality of narrow-bodied rolls 86, similar to rolls 46, are mounted on the carriage 64. A narrowbodied roll 88, similar to roll 52fis mounted adjacent the exit end of the accumulator. The strip S to be processed passes around the roll 8 andup around the roll 80 and then down around and up around successive rolls 86 and 84. From the last roll 86 the strip passes up around roll 82 and down around roll 88. The operation of this accumulator is essentially the same as that shown in Figures 2 to 4.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main'stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a carriage movable toward and away from said stationary rolls, a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, at least part of said rolls being narrow-bodied rolls, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the Width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes, and a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator.

2. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a carriage movable toward and away from said stationary rolls, and a plurality of lnain rolls mounted on said carriage, one Vset of said rolls being narrow-bodied rolls and the other set being self-centering rolls, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object of passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes.

3. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a carriage movable toward and away from said stationary rolls, aplurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, one set of said rolls being narrow-bodied rolls and the other set being self-centering rolls, each of said narrowbodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes and a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator.

4. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a

counter-weighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from said stationary. rolls, a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, at least part of said rolls being narrow-bodied rolls, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes, and a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator.

5. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a counter-weighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from said stationary rolls, and a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, the upper rolls being self-centering rolls, each of said self-centering rolls having two roll sections one on each side of the transverse center of the roll and means for rotating the roll sections at the same angular velocity, said roll sections being constructed so as to provide axial forces directed inwardly toward the transverse center of the roll at the points of contact with the strip.

6. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a counter-weighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from Vsaid stationary rolls, and a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, the upper rolls being selfcentering rolls and the lower rolls being narrow-bodied rolls, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes.

7. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising'a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a counter-weighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from said stationary rolls, a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, the upper rolls being selfcentering rolls and the lower rolls being narrow-bodied rolls, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which the object passes, and a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator.

8. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a setv of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a counterweighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from said stationary rolls, a set of main rolls mounted on said carriage, one set of said main rolls being mounted below the other set at least the first of the rolls in the lower set being a narrow-bodied roll, a bottom narrowbodied roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator, each of said narrow-bodied rolls having a cylindrical strip supporting surface of substantially less width than the width of the object passing thereover around a substantial arc of which-the object passes, a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the top of said frame at the entry end of the accumulator, said object passing rst around said -last named self-centering roll after which it passes consecutively downwardly and upwardly around the main rolls.

9. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated strip-like objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on said frame, a

object passing first around said last named self-centering roll after which it passes consecutively downwardly and upwardly around the main rolls.

10. A mechanical accumulator for handling elongated objects comprising a stationary frame, a plurality of main stationary rolls mounted on same stationary frame, a counter-weighted carriage movable vertically toward and away from said stationary rolls, a plurality of main rolls mounted on said carriage, the upper rolls being selfcentering rolls and the lower rolls being narrow-bodied rolls, a bottom narrowbodied roll mounted adjacent the entry end of said accumulator, a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the top of said frame at the entry end of the accumulator, said object passing rst around said bottom narrow-bodied roll and upwardly around said last named self-centering roll after which it passes consecutively downwardly and upwardly around the main rolls, a self-centering roll mounted adjacent the top of said frame at the exit end of the accumulator and a bottom narrowbodied roll mounted adjacent the exit end of the accumuo Lorig-Aligner Self-Centering Rolls.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,892 Benner et al Aug. 2, 1927 2,280,943 Ferm Apr. 28, 1942 2,494,402 Mursch Jan. 10, 1950 2,593,157 Lorig Apr. 15, 1952 2,631,847 Hornberger Mar. 17, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES United States Steel Publication, ADV-19816-53, (Copy received in Division 17, June 9, 1953.) 

